Links for Ultimate Frisbee in Houston and for Texas in General:

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Looking for a pickup game in Houston? Here's a quick guide, current as of 05/05/2002.

Looking for links? Skip all the way down to the bottom.

Want to shower me with praise for this hard work? No? Want to complain about errors in the dates/times/locations? Contact me by clicking here. And please…make certain to address me as the Almighty Diskmaster.

PICKUP GAMES

Mondays

Jaycee Park, almost in the Heights, 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM. This game is played at a lighted city park that is located at the intersection of Seamist and Grovewood in the general area of the Heights. (You can take either North Shepherd or T.C. Jester south from the 610 Loop North or north from I-10. Either way, head west on 11^th for a couple of miles, passing Ella. Once you see a Texaco station on your left, Seamist is only a few hundred feet further along on the right. Head north about a half-mile.)  This is the home base for the informal group called the Penultimates. It’s a game that's open to all skill levels and it's a pretty low-key event (optional stall counts, few uses of zone coverages). You can get on a special confidential e-mail list that announces changes in start times and any cancellations of games. Contact Mark Weber to join. Because the park is periodically reserved by other groups before we can stake our claim, it is quite important to get on this list so you don’t waste a trip. And meanwhile, why not check out the Penultimates web page developed by Mark Weber? Information valid as of May 5, 2002.

Tuesdays

Johnson Space Center in Clear Lake, 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM. This is the home game for the team called Tuesdays At 4; this group sometimes gets motivated enough to enter a tournament or two. Reportedly the skill level is mixed. The backup site is Nassau Park. Information valid as of March 31, 2002.

Wednesdays

Clear Lake Park in Clear Lake, 8:30 PM to 11:00 PM. The park is about four and a half miles east of I-45 on NASA Road 1. This is the home game for the Club Mud team, which periodically roams off to local tournaments. Likely, the skill level is pretty high. You can try the Club Mud article link below for more information. Information valid as of March 31, 2002.

Thursdays

Rice University at 5:00 PM. This is at the field near Entrance 2. It’s in front of the arched building by the quad. You know, the building where all of the blushing brides have their wedding photos taken. I’m told that this game has some association with the local Baylor folks, but I’m sure all are welcome in the light. Speaking of which, the time of this game may change when we come up on Daylight Savings Time.

Same as the Monday listing for the Penultimates.

Fridays

Hermann Park, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The field is at the corner of Fannin and North MacGregor. This is a very relaxed and virtually comatose game that is open to basic and intermediate levels and that has a lot of non-league and part-time players and newcomers. The Fluff, a recurring HURL team, make their home here. It's not a game where you can storm around talking smack and expecting to showcase your Mad Skillz to the general awe of the populace. It is, however, a venue where a higher number of female players will show up than at other venues, for what that's worth (and to me, it's quite a lot). Contact Sid Reddy to be included on a semi-regular announcement of scheduled dates and times (these are sometimes subject to change). Note that parking is kinda difficult right now due to the construction on Fannin, so develop your alternate parking scheme in advance. Information valid as of May 5, 2002.

Saturdays

Nothing at nowhere. Although there are rumblings that maybe the Micro-League will segue into this timeslot. And once the HURL Spring Season is finished, some other informal pickup might evolve, probably at Rice. Except that all of the fields are gonna be off-limits because the university will be resodding them or whatever it is that they do. So, really, I don’t have a clue.

Sundays

Rice University, 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. This game is near Entrance 8 along University Boulevard. It's behind the gym that is next to the tennis courts and is played either on the field next to the baseball stadium or on the lacrosse field that's another couple of hundred feet away. Note that a good number of the regulars here (who are, for the most part, not a part of the usual HURL crowd) are in their late 30s or beyond, so if you’re creeping into that UPA Masters category, their game might be a good outlet for you. It’s pretty intense nonetheless. Oh, yeah…Spin, Houston’s non-college women’s team, practices in the vicinity as well. Information valid as of May 5, 2002.

Rice University, 4:00 PM to some undefined time. There’s often some kind of pickup game going on over on the soccer fields near the football stadium. Usually it’s on the field that’s closest to Entrance 13 along Sunset Boulevard. Um…hmm. I guess you could contact Gabe Fuzat if you dare. Also, I’m providing this here spiffy map that was produced for the Rice women’s team. The field in question is the one with the big ol’ “Sectionals” arrow pointing at it.

LINKS

 For a look at some exciting photos of the various Ultimate experiences of the Saturday Night Special and their corporate spinoffs, click here.

 Are you an Ultimate groupie and you won't feel complete until you know every last detail about the quasi-official Win/Loss record of the Saturday Night Specials? If so, you are to be pitied, but you can still click here to learn more. 

 As for the inevitable links to other Ultimate sites: 

 Check out the site for Cloud Nine, the men’s college team at Rice University.

 Wow! Another site for a Rice team. This time, it’s for the women. Stroll on over to see Miss Red. Link added as of March 1, 2002.

 This article deals with a rumored sighting of Clear Lake's elusive Club Mud.

 Are you a current or recovering Longhorn? Make sure to patronize your school’s super-slick site, which is the home for both the college men’s team and the annual Sintex Tournament. There’s also a separate site for the college women’s team of Lady Marmalade. Link added as of March 1, 2002.

 Come visit the official Penultimates site for the Monday/Thursday night pickup game. Site has been updated as of April 23, 2001.

 If you're willing to admit you're an Aggie, you'd probably be interested in the activities of the campus Ultimate team at Texas A&M.

 Click here to genuflect before the mightiness of Stray Cone Sports/HURL of Houston, the hallowed organizers of Houston's primary leagues and a good resource for links and data.

 Living in Austin? Then click here to visit their Central Command Bunker for all things Ultimate.

 Stuck in Dallas? Well, there's an Ultimate resource for you, too. Click here to visit it. Link updated as of April 27, 2001.

 Languishing in El Paso? Never fear, there's a league forming for your area, and for infiltrators from Las Cruces, NM. You can find details here. Link added as of April 27, 2001.

 Wandering around San Antonio with nothing to do? Why not play some Ultimate? Check out the group in the Alamo City by clicking here. Link updated as of March 1, 2002.

 What the hell are you doing in Lubbock? Oh, well, make the most of it. Check out the mysterious Hyzer Soze. They may have some connection to Texas Tech, but I’m too lazy to find out. Oh, yeah, there’s also a women’s team up there: the dangerous Discie Chicks. Link added as of March 1, 2002.

 Looking for a women’s team in Austin (hopefully because you are a woman and not just some voyeuristic pervert)? Get in contact with Buttercup.

 Down and out in Denton? Can’t help you…I’m not really sure where it is. But there’s still a local group for you! Link added as of March 1, 2002.

 Man, are we Ultimate nerds or what? The Saturday Night Specials crew now has started doing its own play-by-play analysis, thanks to amazing Palm Pilot technology! See the details provided by Rob "Wonderboy" Nugen.